Eight University of Toronto (U of T) student teams showcased innovative solutions to pressing global challenges at the 2026 Hult Prize Qualifiers at U of T, held at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus on Feb. 11, 2026.
This prestigious pitch competition, hosted by the Centre for Entrepreneurship, serves as the preliminary round for the Hult Prize, a global competition empowering over 100,000 students to develop solutions aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ultimate prize is a staggering $1 million USD in seed funding awarded to one team at the Global Finals in September.
The teams vied for a chance to advance to the Hult Prize Nationals, which progress to the Digital Incubator, Global Accelerator and, ultimately, the Global Finals in September 2026. There, they will have the opportunity to pitch their ventures on the world stage and compete for the funding needed to transform their impactful ideas into reality.
The atmosphere was full of anticipation, with attendees—including faculty, fellow students, alumni and members of the larger entrepreneurial community—eager to witness the next generation of U of T changemakers in action. Tara Etherington, executive director of the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, opened the event by celebrating the University’s recent Hult Prize global momentum.
The track record is indeed impressive:
- 2024: Xatoms represented Canada in the Global Finals, outperforming nearly 10,000 startups to secure a spot in the top six.
- 2024: Re:Pair Genomics brought U of T innovation to the Hult Prize Summits in Mexico.
- 2025: NephroTech advanced to the historic Ashridge House in London for the Global Accelerator, ranking among the top 22 teams in the world.
These achievements reflect the passion, resilience and innovative vision defining the University’s student startup ecosystem.
The judges, a distinguished panel including experts in entrepreneurship, social impact and scientific innovation, faced a difficult task evaluating the diverse range of business models and social impact strategies. The panel consisted of:
- Kayla Sousa, programs lead, ICUBE, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
- Natalija Vojno, environmental peacebuilder and mentor, Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE)
- Celestine Nema, program coordinator, Entrepreneurship & Work-Integrated Learning, University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)
- Ria Khan, 2025 Hult Prize top 22 finalist and co-founder and CEO, NephroTech
The range of impact this year was remarkable. Contenders pushed boundaries with everything from assistive AI glasses (World in Your Eyes) and automated patient communication (Talk to Medi) to accessible sleep apnea care (Respira), sustainable procurement (Tarazoo), and smart waste management (EcoCare).
After careful deliberation, the judges awarded first prize to 3rd Generation Organs (3GO). 3GO is filling a critical gap by offering a more physiological, translatable platform that improves decision-making in drug development and accelerates treatments for kidney, pancreatic and metabolic diseases. Anupama Bhadwal, a PhD candidate in physiology, and Marah Al Shammaa, an MHSc candidate, represent 3GO. Both are with U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine; Bhadwal is also an Arts & Science alumna.
The judges also recognized the potential of the runners-up, MEISSNER and Buvara Inc.
First runner-up MEISSNER is represented by chemistry undergraduate Olivia Leng, along with PhD candidates Sai Govind Hari Kumar and Andrew Wang. All three are from U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science. MEISSNER is a deep-tech startup developing next-generation superconducting materials using artificial intelligence and quantum simulations to discover rare-earth-free superconductors.
Second runner-up Buvara Inc. is represented by U of T engineering students Katarina Poffley and Hadia Mahmood, along with Alexa Dimatteo, a graduate student at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. Poffley is in engineering science and Mahmood is in mechanical engineering within the department of mechanical and industrial engineering. Dimatteo is also a U of T alumna of Rotman Commerce and the Faculty of Arts & Science. Women-founded and led, Buvara Inc. is building the future of reproductive autonomy by redesigning cryogenic storage for enhanced safety and real-time clinical accountability.
-
Next stop: Montreal. 3GO is headed to McGill University in April to represent U of T on the national stage. By competing against Canada’s best, they are vying for a spot in the Digital Incubator, a platform providing the resources and mentorship needed to prove their product-market fit. From there, the path leads to the Hult Prize Global Accelerator for advanced business modelling and, finally, the Global Finals in September, where a $1 million USD grand prize awaits the world’s most impactful vision.
“We are incredibly inspired by the dedication and ingenuity of all the participating teams,” said Etherington. “We congratulate 3GO on their win and eagerly look forward to supporting their journey as they represent the U of T on the global stage.”